Okay, so one Chicago Sun-Times columnist didn’t actually shoot himself in the foot (that we know of, at least), but, figuratively speaking, he machine-gunned his leg off after he failed spectacularly to target a gun store with a hit piece. In a recent column, Neil Steinberg chronicles his attempt to purchase a Smith & Wesson M&P15 — an “assault” rifle — from Maxon Shooter’s Supplies located in Des Plaines, a northwest suburb of Chicago. Steinberg went through the customary firearm acquisition process, which in Illinois includes a 24-hour waiting period. But things didn’t exactly turn out like he was expecting:

> [After the initial process] Sarah from Maxon called. They were canceling my sale and refunding my money. No gun for you. I called back. Why? “I don’t have to tell you,” she said. I knew that, but was curious. I wasn’t rejected by the government? No. So what is it? “I’m not at liberty,” she said. Gun dealers do have the right to refuse sales to anyone, usually exercised for people who seem to be straw purchasers. … A few hours later, Maxon sent the newspaper a lengthy statement, the key part being: “it was uncovered that Mr. Steinberg has an admitted history of alcohol abuse, and a charge for domestic battery involving his wife.” Well, didn’t see that coming.

Was it the blurred vision from heavy drinking that caused Steinberg to not see it coming, or his complete ignorance of how gun laws work? (We’ll give him the benefit of a doubt and go with the latter.) In either case, Steinberg blames the gun dealer for the embarrassing kerfuffle: “Now I’ll state what I believe the real reason is [I was denied the weapon]: Gun manufacturers and the stores that sell them make their money in the dark.” Besides, he argued just beforehand, “Were that same standard applied to the American public, there would be a whole lot fewer guns sold. Besides, they knew I planned to immediately sell it back to them.”

Contrary to Mr. Steinberg’s distorted thinking, gun dealers routinely reject gun applicants — one reason being the abusive history of prospective buyers like Steinberg. Unlike criminals, the vast majority of gun dealers follow their conscience. And that has saved untold thousands of lives. In fact, if the FBI had heeded one gun dealer’s concerns, the Orlando massacre could possibly have been avoided. Ironically, while gun dealers are following the laws, folks like Steinberg and this CBS reporter are intentionally trying to obfuscate them. But by all means, let’s demonize Second Amendment-exercising gun owners.